Restore up to 3 old photos for $29
Add 2 or 3 photos. We restore them all free so you can see the results, then you pay $29 for the full-size files.
Add my photos
Restored by As They Were
Real results from our restoration process on old public-domain archive photos. Slide to compare, and tap Colour or Black and white to switch versions. Nothing was retouched by hand.
Example photos are public-domain archive images (Wikimedia Commons).
How it works
Upload your photo
A scan is best; a clear phone photo of the print works too. Your original never leaves your hands.
See it restored, free
In about a minute you see a before-and-after preview. No payment, no account.
Download it in full size
Pay only if you love it. Black-and-white photos come in black and white AND in colour, ready to print.
Still them
Faces checked
Some AI apps "fix" a face by giving it someone else's features. We compare every face we can measure before and after, and throw away any result where someone stops looking like themselves.
Black and white and colour
Black-and-white photos come back in two versions: the restored original and a natural colour version. Keep both.
Minutes
See your preview in about a minute and download the full-size files a few minutes after you pay. Studios take days or weeks.
Prices
Every order starts with a free preview. You pay only for the full-resolution files.
- Full-resolution restored photos, ready to print
- Black-and-white photos come back in black and white and in colour
- A before-and-after picture of each photo to share
- Not happy after paying? We redo the photo or refund you (30 days)
One-time payment. No account, no subscription.
Questions
What kinds of damage can you fix?
Scratches, cracks, creases and fold lines, tears, dust, spots, stains, flaking and faded or yellowed prints. Missing pieces, like a torn-off corner, are filled in to match. A face that is mostly missing can't be brought back exactly; the free preview shows you honestly what we can do.
Will they still look like themselves?
That's the point of As They Were. Our software compares every face it can measure before and after restoring. If anyone stops looking like themselves, that result is thrown away and the photo is restored again more gently. Faces that are very small or turned away can't be measured, so for those the free preview is your check.
How do I photograph an old print with my phone?
Lay the print flat near a window, turn the flash off, hold the phone straight above it and fill the screen with the photo. Avoid glare and shadows. A scan works best, but a clear phone photo is fine.
Are the colours accurate?
The colours are a realistic guess: nobody can know the real colour of a dress from 1925. That's why you always also get the restored black-and-white version of a black-and-white photo.
How long does it take?
The free preview takes about a minute for one photo and a few minutes for several. After you pay, the full-resolution files are usually ready within 5 minutes.
What do I get?
For each photo: the restored photo in full resolution (up to 4,096 pixels on the long side), a colour version and a black-and-white version of black-and-white photos, and a before-and-after picture to share. Bundles also come as one zip file. Download them from your order page or the link we email you, for 30 days.
Can I print it?
Yes. The files are big enough for a sharp 8x10 and a good 11x14 at a photo lab or drugstore. Very small originals give smaller files.
Do real artists restore my photos?
No. As They Were uses AI, which is why it takes minutes instead of days and costs a fraction of a studio. You see the result before you pay.
Is my photo private?
Yes. Your photos are stored privately and only you get the links. We delete the photo you upload within 3 days, unpaid previews after 7 days and your restored photos 30 days after delivery. We never use your photos to train AI or as examples.
What if I'm not happy?
You see your restored photo before you pay. If something isn't right after you pay, email support@astheywere.com within 30 days with your order number and we'll redo the photo or refund you.
Photos are restored by AI. Colours added to black-and-white photos are a realistic guess, not a record of the real colours. Results depend on the condition of the original.